Container for flat articles



Patented Mar. 21, 1950 CONTAINER FOR FLAT ARTICLES Stephen P. Midouhas, Bristol, Pa., assignor to Kemline Metal Products Company, Bristol, Pa., a. corporation of Pennsylvania Application May 6, 1948, Serial No. 25,325 claims. (c1. 20s-co) This invention relates to fiat containers and relates more particularly to novel corner reinforcing means for flat receptacles.

An important object of the invention is to provide a novel container formed of heavy cardboard or other sheet material and designed primarily for the packing and shipping of flat articles. Many conventional fiat containers used in shipping somewhat fragile articles are provided with separately fitted corner reinforcing brackets which protect the contents against blows delivered against the edges and also act as spacer elements to protect the contents against undue compressive force when a quantity of the containers are stacked, one upon the other.

An object of the present invention is to provide an improved container of inexpensive construction wherein novel corner reinforcing means are formed integrally with the iiat container by providing plural inturned tongues on each side of the several corner sections and which protect the contents against side blows as well as compressive force.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved fiat container having reinforcing means of the character described which can be produced at substantially the same cost as a conventional iiat package.

A further object of the invention is to provide a container construction wherein the inturned tongues effectively space the flat contents inwardly from the edges of the closed container and retain the contents in such inwardly spaced position. Thus, any blows which may be delivered to the edges of the container during transit are absorbed by the container itself and do not damage the contents.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of la flat container embodying the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof, partly in section.

Fig. 3 is a plan View of the container in open position.

Fig. 4 is a broken side elevation of the closed container.

Fig. 5 is a broken section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a broken section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

Fig. '7 is a broken section taken on line 'I-l of Fig. 2.

The container, shown in open position in Fig. 3, including a rectangular lower Wall 9 dened walls II, I2, I3 and I4, carried integrally along such fold lines I0 and top wall sections I5, I 6, I1 and I8, respectively, formed integrally with the side walls along foldA lines I9.

In the illustrated container the side walls are relatively shallow and their height will be varied depending upon the thickness of the article carried therein. Opposed top wall sections I1 and I8 are relatively narrow and are first folded inwardly, after which the remaining opposed top wallsections I5 and I6 are folded inwardly and are of such width as to meet along a center line 20. The proportions of such top wall sections lmay also be varied without departing from the invention. i

Along each edge of the container adjacent each corner section a tongue 23 is formed by providing two spaced, generally parallel cuts 24 lying more or less perpendicular to the edge. No material need be removed.

The method of assembling the container is as follows. The blanks may rst be cut to shape by fold lines ID, relatively shallow vertical side including cuts 24 and scored along fold lines I0 and I9. They are preferably packed and shipped flat to the place of use. The fiat article or articles 26 to be enclosed, shown in broken lines in Figs. 2 and 3 and full lines in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 may first be placed on the lower wall 9 and the narrower top wall sections I'I and I8 then folded inwardly along fold lines I9 and l0. Inthis folding operation each portion between spaced cuts 24 is pushed inwardly to the position shown to form the tongues 23. The operation is repeated with respect to top wall sections I5 and I6. The container' may then be sealed by applying a strip of adhesive tape (not shown) across the center line 20.

By pushing in the tongues, small notches 21 remain along the edges. The tongues retain the flat article in spaced relation to the side walls. In Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the Contents 26 of the container are shown as being relatively thick, compared with the thickness of the stock used in forming the container. In most instances where the contents are somewhat thinner, the double layer of material forming the tongues act as the spacer elements when the filled containers are stacked one upon the other.

While one form or embodiment of the invention has been shown and described herein for illustrative purposes, and the construction and arrangement incidental to a specic application thereof have been disclosed and discussed in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is limited neither to the mere details or relative 3 arrangement of parts, nor to its specific embodiment shown herein, but that extensive deviations from the illustrated form or embodiment of the invention may be made without departing from the principles thereof.

I claim:

1. A container for flat articles formed from a blank of sheetnmateral having aiplurality of intersectinglines of fold dening a'lower wall, Side Walls and upper wall sections forming closure flaps, each edge of the container having a pair 0f spaced cuts lying generally perpendicularwith such edge and extending through the side wall and into the top and bottom Vwallsfthe'material disposed between each pairof cuts being :disposed inwardly oi such edge to form a tongue which spaces the fiat artcleinwardly Tof such edge.

2. A container for flat articles formed'from-a blank of sheet material having a plurality of intersecting lines of fld-dening alower-walL side 'walls-and upper wall sections forming closure fflaps, ea'ch-edge Vof the container having :a plurality of pairs of spaced cutsllying-generally'per- `p'endicular with` such edge and extending through -the sidewall and into t'heftop andfbottom Walls, the'material disposedbetween feach pair of cuts -beingdisposed'inwardly oisuch edge to y'forma tongue.

'-3. 'A container 4fior*ii-at'articles formedfrom `a blank of sheet material having a phnalityof Iintersecting lines of "fold `delning a lower wall, 'side walls-'and Aupper wall sections, lat least two of f suchopposed upper 'wall sections meeting vsubstantially at the central median line of the-'con- -tainer yand forming closure a'psyftherem-aining upper wall 'section lbeing of :lesser --width -than'- the lflrst mentioned 'upper wall section, each Iedge 'of the container `having plurality :of pail-s of spaced cuts lying generally perpendicular :with 'such edge and extending-through 'the side -wall 4 and into the top and bottom walls, the material disposed between each pair of cuts being disposed inwardly of such edge to form a tongue which forms an abutment to space the article from the edge of the container.

4. A container for nat articles formed from a blank of sheet material and including a lower Wall, side Twalls, and upper wall sections formed integrally with said side Walls and'forming closure aps, each side wall of the container having plural "spaced cuts adjacent each corner section which -.,extendfinto:the upper and lower walls, the cuts being generally perpendicular with the edge and 'the material disposed between such cuts lying "inwardly A01 such'edge to form abutments which "space the contents of the container from the edges thereof, such tongues also forming corner reinforcing elements.

5. v'A container for flat articles formed from a blank of sheet material having a plurality of .intersection fold lines dening alower wall, side :walls and upper wall sections forming closure naps, each edge of fthe container havingfspa'ce'd cuts adjacent each corner Ysection which extend `through'the side wall 'and into 'the -upper and lower walls, I thev cuts being generally perpendicu- .lar I.with such edge and the material disposed vbetween:such cuts lyinginwardly of such edge Ito '-spa'ce the contentsof thecontainer 'from the aedges .thereof .such 'tongues-falso fforrning corner reinforcing elements.

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